St. Paul daily globe., 1887-01-22
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
Relating to America of which
Scholars Would Like n CataIOgue

Scholars Would E.ike a Catalogue.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Sena tor Sher-
man to-day laid before the senate a letter
from the secretary of state transmitting
copies of a memorial signed by representa-
tives of several historical societies and by
many eminent men of letters of the United
States, and especially by those engaged in
historical pursuits. setting forth the great
value and Importance of a full and accurate
digest and catalogue of the numerous doc
uments found in the public and private ar
chiveS of Europe relating to the early his.
tory of the United States, and especially
the period between the treaty of
Paris in 1853, by which Great Brit
ain acquired from France title
to the Northwestern territories of
America, and the treaty of peace between
the United States and Great Britain in 1888.
The secretary says:
The memorials represent that such docu-
ments exist in great numbers in the various
European archives; that the condition under
which they ard accessible-even when open
to public inspection-are such that but few
have been copied and most of them are un-
known to the American student that Mr..
Benjamin Franklin Stevens, a native citizen
of the United States, residing in London, has
during several years of carful research and
under exceptional advantages prepared a
descriptive catalogue of over $4,000 separate
papers found in the archives of different
European counties: and that this initial and
incomplete list shows the value Of the sub
stantialy complete list which they ask con-
gress to authorize and provide the means for.
LETTER FROM MIR. STEVENS
setting forth in detail the nature of the
word he has undertaken aid the conditions
essential to its accomplishment, is submit
ted, and the secretary continues:
The weight of testimony as to the value of
the proposed indeX-catalogue suggested by
the names attached to the memorial iustifies
inc in commenting the subject to the careful
attention of congress. Without its favorable
action, not only will the completion of the
work be doubtful, if not impossible but the
fragment, now prepared would probably re-
main practically valueess. Propositions have
from time to time been made to congress
by persons eminent in history and literature,
together with the recommendations of sew
eral of my predecessors, looking 10 the acoui-
sition of transcripts of records in foreign
archives relating to the early history of the
United States, and their deposit in the ma
tional capitol for free consultation. Such
descriptive catalogue as is now proposed
would unQuestionably be of advantage in
suggesting the proper selection of historical
matter for transcription and indicating where
it is to be found.
The memorials accompanying the secre-
tary's letter are signed by
A HOST OF PROMINENT MEN.
among whom are B. H. Field. president of
the New York historical society: Francis
Parkman. Robert c. Winthrop and William
W. Greenough, of Boston; George E. Ellis.
president OF the Massachusetts Historical
society; a. c. Goodell, Jr., president of the
New England Historical and Gen
ealogical society; James W. Bradbury.
president of the Maine Historical society:
G. j. Adams, president of Cornell uniyer-
sity; James +. Angel, president of the
University OF Michigan: W. r. Anderson.
president OF Rochester university; S. c.
Bartlett, president of Dartmoor college: F.
A. 7, Barnard, president of Columbia col
lege; Charles p. DAILY, president of the New
York Geographical society: George W.
Childs. of the Philadelphia Ledger; Edward
EgglestOn and r. w. Glider, of the Cen
tury; Whitelaw Reid, of the New York
Tribune; Allen Thorndyke Rice, of the
North American Review: Henry G. Mar
guard, E. c. Stedman, Manton Mar
bic John Bigelow, Joseph Choakes
and George William Curtis, of
New York; Poultnev Bigelow
Editor of Outing, Henry Ward Beecher
Wayne Mcveagh and S. A. Allibone, of
the LenoX library. MI Stevens, in a let
ter to the secretary which accompanies the
message to the president pro TEN, says that
he has discovered many valuable historical
works: that the work has become too great
for any individual alone unless a man of
wealth. and that when complete the index
will probably comprise $50. 900 documents,
and when printed ill 10000 royal octave
DapeS